CJ Gunther/EPAIvan Nova fires away in first inning on Sunday night against Boston. He finished with 10 Ks in just six innings.

BOSTON — The American League East standings are impossible to miss at Fenway Park. Tucked near the left-field corner, at the base of the Green Monster, they are visible throughout the ballpark.

In one glance, they offered an encouraging progress report on the Yankees.

“NEW YORK” the big white letters read, just as they have since June 11, when the Yankees took the lead in the division.

Indeed, for everything that has supposedly gone wrong for the Yankees, things have been remarkably good. Nothing changed last night, when the Yankees ended the first half of the season with a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox, accomplishing yet another goal.

At the start of a four-game set here, the Yankees made it a point to finish their first-half with a bang. They fulfilled their self-imposed mission thanks in part to Ivan Nova, who struck out 10 in six innings, while allowing just one earned run.

Andruw Jones, who hit his fourth home run of the series, delivered a team-high three RBI.

As they have done all throughout the first half, the Yankees found a way to win, despite their flaws.

Shortstop Derek Jeter dropped a pop-up that led to a run and booted a grounder that led to another (though he was not charged with an error). Reliever David Robertson narrowly missed giving up an eighth-inning homer that would have given the Red Sox hope of a rally. And closer Rafael Soriano suffered through his typical struggles in non-save situations.

Yet, the Yankees emerged with the win, entering the break at 52-33, seven games ahead of the second-place Orioles, by virtue of the best record in the major leagues.

“Guys just step up. That’s what this team is about,” said Jones.

Indeed, these Yankees have become masters of overcoming imperfections.

Starting catcher Russell Martin lugged a .179 average into the All-Star break. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has yet to show flashes of his old power. The trainer’s room remains one of the most crowded places in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

Yet, the Yankees continued to make up for their shortcomings.

“It’s been a strange first half I think,” Girardi said before the game. “It’s been kind of streaky for us. At different times, different parts of our game has struggled. But we give our guys a lot of credit. They found ways to win games.”

Indeed, even when the Yankees have encountered weaknesses, they have discovered ways to make up for them.

Offensively, the Yankees’ struggles with runners in scoring position have been a persistent issue. They began the day ranked last in the league (.231). But they lead the league in homers (134).

On the mound, injuries have sidelined CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, who had helped stabilize a starting rotation that struggled badly to begin the season. But even without closer Mariano Rivera — and for a time Robertson — the Yankees’ bullpen has picked up the slack.

Have things gone exactly as planned? Hardly, and they provided yet another example last night against the Red Sox, who have not had as much luck in covering up their shortcomings.

Right-hander Cody Eppley, one of the biggest surprises to emerge in the bullpen, walked two batters last night before he departed. Then there was the shaky defense from Jeter, who had a spasm in his right shoulder in first inning, but said before departing for the All-Star game, it was “just a little muscle spasm. That was about it.” And Nova could have stood to cut down on his pitch count.

Yet, as they have done for half a season, the Yankees shined through their blemishes.
“You just have to continue to play well and try to win series,” Girardi said. “And if you could do that, things should take care of themselves.”